3 TikTok trends that reveal the male self-image
The viral TikTok trend about the Roman Empire can’t possibly have escaped anyone with internet access. While men are constantly thinking about Ancient Rome, women are left wondering: why? This is just one of many trends filling our For You feeds, highlighting the world's fascination with the inner workings of the male brain. Scrolling through a feed dominated by guys thinking about the Roman Empire, I’ve never felt further from heterosexual men - or been more certain of my own orientation.
Both Swedish and international media are reporting on men worldwide who spend several moments a week pondering the Roman Empire. Meanwhile, women are thinking about work responsibilities, household chores, and trying to remember everyone’s birthday. Aside from an obsession with Rome, other TikTok trends reveal a perhaps slightly skewed male self-image.
“Girls, we're always talking about like reproductive rights and political activism and 'how's your family?' And guys just want to like Google the population of Minneapolis … That's what happens when you have all your rights. When you have all your rights, you wake up and you're just like 'oh what do I do today?'” - Mary Beth Barone
If we forget about the Roman Empire for a moment (which seems harder for some than others), there are more trends on TikTok that support this theory. Earlier this year, a trend went viral where girls told their boyfriends they didn't have the "aura" of someone who could ride a bike. The responses varied from "my ACL is torn" to "no one rides a bike better than me" and "I’m an expert at anything involving motor skills." Safe to say, the trend hit a nerve.
Now, a few months later, the feed is full of men who genuinely believe they are capable of landing a plane in an emergency - without any relevant training. Why do men think so highly of themselves?
I can think of many situations where I wish I had what seems to be the confidence of the average man. On a first date, a summer evening at Trädgården, or before a pitch, just to name a few. Why are men thinking about the Roman Empire when I’m worrying about whether my English is actually as good as I claimed on my CV?
So the question is: do women have low self-esteem, or are men just completely delulu?
Hanna Sandström, PR Consultant at Obeya